NOV EXTREME- SCIENCE
Section 1
Read each question carefully. Choose the most suitable answer.
1. The following are true about renewable energy, except:
A. Renewable energy is a form of clean energy.
B. Renewable energy investments are cost effective.
C. Renewable energy does not emit greenhouse gasses.
D. Renewable energy depletes the planet of its natural resources.
2. Which of the following is not a source of renewable energy?
A. Wind.
B. Sun.
C. Moon.
D. Water.
3. How is electricity generated from hydropower?
A. Water is heated up to release heat and steam which generate electricity.
B. The water flowing down a river is used to spin turbines inside a generator.
C. Water flow through panels which absorb the kinetic energy and generate
electricity.
D. Flowing water produce energy that charges photovoltaic in electricity generators.
4. In 1954, scientists at Bell Telephone discovered an element that created an electric
charge when it was exposed to lots of sunlight. What is that element?
A. Mercury.
B. Silicon.
C. Plasma.
D. Lithium.
5. All over the world, scientists are finding new ways to save energy. Which of the following
is not one of those ways?
A. Microwaves.
B. Electric cars.
C. Fuel cells.
D. Microturbines.
1
Section 2
Answer the questions in the spaces provided.
6. The picture below is of a geothermal power plant. Answer the following questions based
on the picture.
a. What does geothermal mean?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
b. State two examples of geothermal energy.
______________________________________________________________________
2
c. How does a geothermal power plant work?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
d. Energy created from geothermal power is safe, clean, simple, reliable and environment
friendly. However it is not widely use. What are the disadvantages of geothermal
energy? Explain two.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
3
Answer Key
Section 1
1. D. Renewable energy depletes the planet of its natural resources.
Tip: Renewable energy is made from resources that Mother Nature will replace, like wind, water
and sunshine.
2. C. Moon.
Tip: "Solar" is the Latin word for "sun" and it's a powerful source of energy. In fact, the
sunlight that shines on the Earth in just one hour could meet world energy demand for an
entire year.
3. B. The water flowing down a river is used to spin turbines inside a generator.
Tip: People have used water power for more than 2,000 years. Ancient Egyptians used
water wheels for grinding grain, and early Americans learned how to use them for sawing
wood.
4. B. Silicon.
Tip: In 1954, scientists at Bell Telephone discovered that silicon,which is an element found in
sand that created an electric charge when it was exposed to lots of sunlight. Just a few years
later, silicon chips were used to help power space satellites.
5. A. Microwaves.
Tip: A microturbine is a machine, about the size of a small refrigerator, which uses a jet
engine to make electricity. Microturbines are good for the environment because they don't
cause air pollution, and they use turn almost all of the fuel into useful electric and heat
energy.
Section 2
6.
a. "Geo" means "from the earth," and "thermal" means "heat," so this type of energy is
found under the earth.
b. Volcanoes and geysers.
c. A geothermal power plant works by tapping into steam or hot water reservoirs
underground; the heat is used to drive an electrical generator.
d. Geothermal sites can run out of steam over a period of time due to drop in temperature
or if too much water is injected to cool the rocks.
It is only suitable for regions which have hot rocks below the earth and can produce
steam over a long period of time.
Geothermal sites may contain some poisonous gases and they can escape deep within
the earth, through the holes drilled by the constructors.
Geothermal Energy can not be easily transported. Once the tapped energy is extracted,
it can be only used in the surrounding areas.
(Accept any two appropriate answers)
4